New car reviews

2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet Malibu sedan recast with fuel-thrifty turbo power

Bob Plunkett, Thu, 01 Oct 2015 03:08:58 PDT

The Malibu nameplate first appeared on Chevrolet car lots more than five decades ago with Malibu Super Sport as a sporty coupe or sedan variation of the rear-wheel-drive Chevelle. Ultimately, the label accounted for multiple millions of car sales until its demise in 1983.

Yet Malibu returned to Chevrolet in 1997 in the format of a front-wheel-drive mid-size sedan with four doors and room for five passengers, a couple of engine options and several trim designations with competitive price tags.

For 2016 the Malibu sedan scores a ninth-generation reset with a longer but lighter front-wheel-drive platform, sophisticated and aerodynamic body styling and an expanded-length passenger compartment dressed with fine materials and top-quality switchgear, new turbo-charged but gas-sipping Ecotec engines plus more in-vehicle connectivity and advanced electronic safety features.

Body styling for Malibu 2016 looks slick with an edgy shell featuring Chevrolet's dual-port grille and thin sweeping headlamp bezels up front plus LED daytime running lamps on top trim versions, a coupe-like silhouette with a high belt line on flanks and three body-side creases, and a high-hiking tail treatment with wedgy LED taillamps.

Vehicle handling improves with the fully independent suspension using MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear arrangement. The rack-mounted steering system has electric power assistance, which contributes to powertrain fuel efficiency. Brakes consist of a disc at every wheel with electronic links to an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), corner brake control (CBC) plus a traction control system (TCS) and electronic skid controls (ESC).